NHTSA Complaint #10502246 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE. AT THIS TIME I STILL HAD POWER STEERING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE LIGHT, IT CONTINUED TO SHAKE WITH A SLIGHT GRAB TO THE RIGHT PERIODICALLY. AS I CONTINUED ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE SHAKE CONTINUED UNTIL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. AFTER GETTING HOME, I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BACK BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE SHAKE WAS GONE AND SO WAS THE POWER STEERING. TO THIS DATE, 03/10/13, I DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE TORQUE SENSOR IN THE COLUMN. MY MILEAGE AT THE TIME I NOTICED THE SHAKE WAS 82,000. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, AND THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED ARE SEVERE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHER 2008 ESCAPE OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!! *TR